Thomas k



(No Model.)

FIRE ESCAPE. N0. 288,447; Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

T; K;- -KEITH;& R. GARLBTON;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC THOMAS K. KEITH AND noswELL 'OARLETON, or HAVERHILL, MASS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,447, dated November 1883.

- Application filed February 28, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS K. KEITH and RoswnLL CARLETON, of Haverhill, in the countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient portable fire-escape adapted to be carried conveniently in a trunk or valise and'to constitute asafe means for lowering a person from a building to a point of safety. I

To these ends our invention consists in the improved fire-escape which we will now proceed to describe and claim.

Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a side View, showing the device in operation.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Our improved fire-escape is composed, generally speaking, of a reel, a, journald onan arbor, b, a strap or cord, 0, of any suitable material and length, wound upon said reel, and

adapted to be attached at its outer end to a fixed object at the point from which the descent is to be made, a supporting-frame, (l, supporting the arbor b, a; device whereby the human body may be suspended from said frame, and suitable means for regulating the rapidity of the rotation of the reel, so that the cord or strap will unwind at a sufficiently slow rate to admit of the safe descent of the person suspended from the frame.

The device for suspending the body from the frame consists, preferably, of a strap, 0, adapted to pass around the body under the arms, as shown in Fig. 1, and provided with hooks or othsr means for the attachmentof its ends to the frame (I. 1

The means for regulating the rotation of the reel are preferably those shown in the drawings-via, a cam-lever, f, pivoted at one end of the arbor b, and adapted, when swung downwardly on its pivot, to pressthe sides of the frame d inwardly, and plates. g g, attachedto theinner sides of the frame and bearing against I washers i, of rubber or other yielding material, interposed between the plates 9 g and the sides of the reel. The arbor is provided at one end with a head or nut, k, bearing'against one side of the frame (I, the cam-lever f bearing against the opposite side. loosely through the side of the frame, against which the cam-lever bears. It will be seen,

therefore, that a person suspended from the frame cl can, by moving the lever f, exert any desired degree of inward pressure against the sides of the reel and cause the same to rotate as rapidly or as slowly as may be desired or the lever f may be setin any desired position before the descent is commenced.

The strap 0 is preferably composed of stout retarding the descent of the reel and its load.

WVhen aperson desires to use'our improved fire-escape, he secures the upper end of the strap 0 to any convenient object in or upon the building, passes the strap 0 around his body and secures it to the frame (I. and then throws his weight upon said frame. The reel is caused to rotate by the strain thus exerted'on thestrap,

its load at a rate dependingon the rapidity of rotation of the reel.

We claimp v The improved fire-escape herein'described,

ing flexible sides, the reel, elastic plates interposed between the reel and frame, the bolt forming the axis of the sheave, the cam-lever pivoted to said bolt and bearing on the frame, andthe cordor web and attaching devices, all

combined and arranged substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 26th day of February, 1883.

THOMAS K. KEITH.

ROSWELL GARLETON. Witnesses:

IRA,A. ABBOTT, FRANoIs H. PEARL.

The arbor 7) passes and therefore descends with the frame 01 and consisting, essentially, of the open frame hav- 

